New Zealand (Commonwealth Union) – A multitude of human activities can cause destruction to the environment. The movement of humans in many parts of the world into animal territory has pushed most species out and, in some cases, created conflict, such as those between humans and elephants. Poaching, pollution and encroachment into animal lands continue to be disruptive to animal habitats.
New research has found light pollution is resulting in a deadly toll on the seabirds of the Hauraki Gulf which is located in the North Island of New Zealand.
The light pollution’s toll on Auckland’s seabirds has been surveyed in detail for the first time, with the Sky Tower and central business district being the most frequent for deaths and injuries. PhD student Ariel-Micaiah Heswall, of the University of Auckland, monitored 365 seabirds, who had been disoriented by light, crash-landed over a 4-year period from 2018 to 2021.
Some key findings noted in the study was most frequent groundings were in the central business district, that was the location having the worst light pollution. The birds were most affected in April due to their migration patterns, with the Cook’s petrel being the most affected species. Increased light pollution, brough about an increased likelihood of groundings.
From 365 birds to ground, frequently following a collision with buildings, approximately 50% died from their injuries. Ordinarily, survivors were treated back to health by BirdCare Aotearoa which is a charity that treats injured birds, and then released at dusk in Auckland’s west coast.
“New Zealand is a biodiversity hotspot containing about a quarter of the world’s seabird species and no less than 27 seabird species breed in the Hauraki Gulf,” said Heswall and further explained: “The location of New Zealand’s biggest city, with all its lights, is proving to be a real problem for Aotearoa’s taonga seabirds.”
Fledglings which just exited the nest are particularly unsafe due to inexperience with birds like the petrels or shearwaters to a higher extent.
